First Call: Mike Tomlin discusses safety plans; Steelers work out tackle; a team admits interest in Lamar Jackson
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Tuesday’s “First Call” features Mike Tomlin’s plans for the safety position. At least one team is letting it be known that it will consider acquiring Lamar Jackson, while another franchise says it’s out of the mix. The Pittsburgh Steelers worked out a massive offensive tackle.
And the Penguins had a good night without even taking the ice.
Think safety … somewhere
Steelers coach Mike Tomlin says his team will definitely add to the depth chart at the safety position. He’s just not sure exactly how yet.
“It’s in development,” Tomlin said via Steelers.com. “The free agency process is still ongoing, and our draft prep is going well. And so, we’re going to add to that bunch, certainly. By what means is to be determined, but there’s some credible candidates out there in both pools.”
Another option may be to have Patrick Peterson take some reps there, if the Steelers can find more bodies at cornerback.
“He’s versatile … not only in terms of his talents but his intellect, and we’re not going to be bashful about moving him around,” Tomlin said. “He and I have already had that discussion. I think he’s really excited about the prospects of that.”
Via NJ.com, Tomlin was also complimentary of departing safety Terrell Edmunds. He’s heading to the Eagles via free agency.
“He’s a football lover,” Tomlin said. “He’s highly available. He is very durable and tough. We had a good experience together, and I wish him nothing but the best.”
The Steelers will likely begin the season with Minkah Fitzpatrick and Damontae Kazee as the starters at the safety position.
Give it a try
According to Aaron Wilson of KPRC in Houston, the Steelers worked out a free agent offensive tackle. It’s Josh Miles.
#Steelers worked out former Morgan State offensive tackle Josh Miles @KPRC2
— Aaron Wilson (@AaronWilson_NFL) March 27, 2023
Wilson doesn’t say when the workout occurred. But there is a previous connection to the Steelers. Miles’ offensive line coach at Morgan State, Isaac Williams, is the assistant offensive line coach with the Steelers under Pat Meyer.
Miles was a 2019 seventh-round pick of the Arizona Cardinals. He is huge, 6-foot-5, 314 pounds, but oft injured. He spent time on injured reserve in both 2020 and ‘21. At 27 years of age, Miles has played in 17 NFL games.
Taking an interest
At least one team is admitting that they may investigate acquiring Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson.
It’s the Indianapolis Colts. According to Stephen Holder of ESPN.com, Colts general manager Chris Ballard is letting it be known that the Colts may take a look at trading for the former NFL MVP.
“Anytime a special player is available, which he is, you’ve got to do the work,” Ballard said on Monday. “I’m not gonna get into deep discussions on where it’s at or what we’re doing or what we might do.
“But what I’ll tell you is he’s a really good player, really special player. But you never know how any of this will work out. … I think anytime, at that position, we have a chance to acquire a guy, you’ve got do your work on it to see if it’s doable.”
As ProFootballTalk points out, the Colts have been through a revolving door of quarterbacks since Andrew Luck retired in 2019. This will be the sixth consecutive season with a different opening-day starter. That stretch dates back to Luck’s last full season in 2018.
Jackson revealed on Monday that he had asked the Ravens to trade him back on March 2.
Meanwhile, Washington Commanders general manager Martin Mayhew insisted that his team is not in the market for Jackson, despite some speculation to the contrary.
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What’s going on with Saquon?
Penn State product Saquon Barkley is currently due to play this season with the New York Giants on the franchise tag. The team and its star running back have until July 15 to pound out a long-term deal. Otherwise, he’ll play 2023 on a one-year cap hit of $10.091 million.
But ESPN’s Dan Graziano is reporting that team owner John Mara still wants to negotiate with the former Nittany Lion standout.
“I told Saquon we want him to be a Giant for his entire career,” Mara said. “He provides leadership. He’s a great player, and we’d like to be able to get something done with him at some point. The running back market is what it is right now, but I’m still hopeful at some point we will come to an agreement.”
According to Graziano’s post, Giants general manager Joe Schoen said he’s talking with Barkley’s agent, but the G.M. seems content to have Barkley play on the tag.
“There’s no outstanding offer right now,” Schoen said. “Once we put the franchise tag on him, we stepped back. We knew throughout the negotiation that there was going to be a time where, if we couldn’t come to an agreement, we were going to go to the franchise tag, and that’s what we did.”
Barkley ran for 1,312 yards and 10 touchdowns a season ago.
Take what they can get
The Penguins had to like most of what they saw on the NHL scoreboard Monday night.
There were three games in the Eastern Conference, all impacting the wild-card race. The idle Penguins entered the night with 82 points and nine games remaining, good for the second of two wild-card spots in the chase for the postseason.
The Florida Panthers, ninth in the conference and third in the wild-card standings, lost 5-2 to the Ottawa Senators. That’s Florida’s fourth consecutive defeat. They are stuck on 79 points with nine games remaining. Alex DeBrincat was one of five different goal-scorers for the Sens.
Drake with the no look Cat with the bomb! #GoSensGo pic.twitter.com/Zj9Q2QCAmZ
— Ottawa Senators (@Senators) March 28, 2023
The 10th-place Buffalo Sabres also dropped a 4-3 shootout decision to the Montreal Canadiens. Michael Pezzetta scored the decisive shootout goal.
!!!!!#GoHabsGo pic.twitter.com/eFOwpl77AC
— Canadiens Montréal (@CanadiensMTL) March 28, 2023
So that means Buffalo picks up just one point against the Atlantic Division’s worst team. As a result, the Senators catch the Sabres for a 10th-place tie at 77 points each.
Meanwhile, the New York Islanders rolled over the New Jersey Devils, 5-1. Kyle Palmieri had two goals against his former team.
Kyle Palmieri with the casual stroll + beautiful backhand roof job. pic.twitter.com/WEmkkugbkn
— NHL (@NHL) March 28, 2023
That’s the game that went wrong for the Penguins. New York’s two points now give them 85, three in front of the Penguins for the top wild card with seven games remaining. The Penguins next play Tuesday night in Detroit (71 points). The Pens have won two of three. The Red Wings have dropped five of six.